Murder man returns to village: his killer walks free after eight years prison

ZHAO Zhenshang is free. He did not murder Zhao Zuohai in October 1997. When the ‘victim’ vanished from his home in Zhecheng County, Shangqiu City, rumours abounded.

In October 1999, a decapitated body was found in the village. Zhao Zhenshang was arrested for murder.

The ‘killer’ was tried in court and jailed. News was that the men had rowed over a woman named Du Jinhui. Zhao Zhenshang was jealous and hit Zhao Zuohai on the head. So they said.

In 2002, Zhao Zhenshang was convicted and sentenced to death. That was reduced to a mere 29 years in prison.

When he was away, Zhao Zhenshang wife divorced him. She remarried. Two of his children were adopted. The other two left the village to become migrant workers. They were ashamed. So was Zhao Zuohai. He returned to the village, saying that he had his embarrassment about being poor had kept him away. The Higher People’s Court confirmed his identity and acquitted Zhao Zhenshang of murder.